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Covetousness

Watering the Tulips

August 8, 2012

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain”– 1 Timothy 6:6

Americans, by and large, are living on the brink of financial collapse. Many regularly spend more than they bring in. Multitudes have more credit card debt than they ever intend to pay back. Millions have built up massive debt for things they do not need. Logic escapes us when we consider that we are the best paid society on the planet. Worse yet, many if not most believers have fallen prey to the same schemes that those of this world have.

Why should we even deal with this in a weekly Bible-based article? Well, the problem is a spiritual one. Our text verse explains plainly that “godliness with contentment is great gain”. However, we are taught from a young age in America not to be content with what we have. There is always something better and we ought to want it whether it is clothes, homes, new cars, or any other item. This whole attitude is destroying our financial stability from homes to our government.

So, what is the real problem? The answer is two-fold. First, we as Americans (and even as believers, sadly) are often not content with the lot we have been given by God. In reality, this means we do not trust our Heavenly Father to supply our needs. Or worse, we believe we know more about running our lives than He does. Certainly, God has promised to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). However, as a good Heavenly Father He frequently withholds things that we want because He knows what’s best. However, this can be frustrating to us. That makes us as believers little better than a spoiled brat child.

The second problem can be traced all the way to the root of the financial crisis in America. Frankly, we are a covetous society. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “covetous” as “Very desirous; eager to obtain”. Covetous is a great sin in God’s sight. Paul says that covetous people will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). Worse yet, he declares that covetousness is equated with idolatry in Colossians 3:5. Most of us can easily recognize sins like immorality, drunkenness and drug abuse. But, what worse sin can there be than idolatry? Certainly, this sheds a different light on the sin of covetousness.

Children of God, American humanism and covetousness are working against your faith. Many of us have gotten ourselves in a financial bind because of our own refusal to follow God’s truths. Obviously, this means we have fallen prey to the temptations of this world. Let us commit this moment to follow the instructions of God’s Word so that we may have time to serve Him as we should.

Watering the Tulipsis brought to you by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Northport, AL. For more information, please visit www.sovereigngrace.net. “Your app to the Gospel” is available in the iTunes app store as well as Google Play for Android devices. Please download it today!